Device for battening down hatches



Dec.- 11, 1934. 'n. w. HALVORSEN 1,934,130

DEVICE FQR BATTENING DOWN HATCHES Filed April 8, 1933 T zl Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 8, 1933, Serial No. 665,205 In Norway April 9, 1932 1 Claim.

The object of the present invention is to provide a battening bar for hatches, more particularly ship hatches. Such hatches are usually battened down by means of bars which are placed in fastening tongues, and the fastening of the cover is usually effected by means of wooden wedges. Such wooden wedges, however, are susceptible to shrinkage when dry and are then apt to fall out easily. The usual battening is a frequent source of trouble, requires a long time to fix, and there is no certainty that the wedges will be placed in the correct position. The slow process of battening in the usual way is particularly troublesome in coastal services where the ports are comparatively near to each other but in which nevertheless battening is frequently necessary owing to the exposed stretches of sea between the ports.

The object of the invention is to avoid the said drawbacks by making the battening bars with a certain elasticity whereby the wedges are prevented from loosening should they shrink when dry.

In a preferred form the wedges are of metal and are connected permanently with the battening bars which are provided with channelled side edges beneath which corresponding flanges on the wedges are guided.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a section showing one form of the battening bar in position within the fastening tongue, with the wedge and the edge of the cover in place.

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing a modified form with the wedge in permanent connection with the battening bar, the latter forming a guide for the wedges.

In Fig. 1, 1 designates the hatch-frame, 2 the fastening tongue of the battening bar 3, 4 the wedge and 5 the edge of the cover. The battening bar is suitably made of stainless steel and has a slightly curved shape in cross section. By this means a certain elasticity is obtained ensuring 5 the necessary fastening pressure even if the wedge should shrink owing to its becoming dry.

Again, in the modification of Fig. 2 the battening bar is of bent shape to provide elasticity but it is also furnished with channelled sides 6 for 10 guiding the flanges 7 of a metal battening wedge 8, which is preferably made of stainless steel. With such arrangement the wedge will always be correctly placed relative to the battening bar and will always maintain a proper position in 5 the same in relation to the direction in which the waves strike the hatch, so that all loosening is avoided and the operation of battening down may be effected Within a much shorter time than is possible when using loose wedges. In order to prevent the wedge from seizing, its edges are made of curved shape so as to make contact with the guide only at the ends.

Preferably the bottom face of the wedge is also curved in the direction of its length thereby ensuring that the wedge will be secured and the battening bar yield evenly, the pressure thus being effectively distributed.

I claim:-

A device for battening hatches, comprising a 3 battening bar of curved shape and formed of elastic material, to maintain efiective contact pressure against a battening wedge even when the wedge shrinks, and having channeled edges, and a wedge permanently connected to said battening bar by said channeled edges and held in correct position thereby.

DANIEL WILl-IELM HALVORSEN. 

